I have been wondering if it would be possible for the Golubs and Nigros to save the venerable bell tower of St. Patrick's Church in Watervliet by incorporating it into the new construction If so, would that help those who are having such a hard time letting the building go?

I know it is an emotional reaction, letting go of a beloved structure. The church in New Salem where my husband and I were married 50-plus years ago is now closed.

Furthermore, an ancestor of mine was its minister from 1793 until 1824. Yet, as population centers change as well as customs, many churches face, or have faced already, the same fate.

Troy has many churches that are no longer used for their original purpose. Being able to convert what is otherwise becoming derelict into a tax-paying asset is an obvious, though painful, answer.

I hope the fate of Watervliet's imposing church can be amicably solved.